Tom Arscott – Worcester and Bristol

While Tom was still at Bristol, we caught up with him to talk about sibling rivalry [his brother Luke plays for Exeter], try-scoring celebrations, and stupid purchases.

RUGBY WORLD: So, who are the jokers at Bristol?

TOM ARSCOTT: There are a few really – Shaun Perry, Mark Regan and Luke, my brother. There’s always lots of banter flying around. Jason Hobson and Darren Crompton, the front-row boys, are another couple who get involved. There are a fair few boys who are jokers.

RW: Do you get picked on by the guys for anything in particular?

TA: No, not really, just for having crazy hair. There’s nothing apart from that.

RW: You scored nine tries for Bristol last season. Are you going to work on your try celebrations like a footballer?

TA: I just try to keep it simple. I get too excited and I couldn’t think about having a real planned celebration. I just do whatever comes to my mind at the time because I’m too excited, too pleased to have scored a try.

RW: Is it strange playing with your brother, Luke, or do you like it?

TA: I really enjoy playing with him. We’d played apart for a couple of seasons [Tom was at Plymouth Albion and Luke at Bristol before last season], so it’s now nice to have a bit of understanding with each other, more than you might have with another team-mate.

RW: And you live together, too. Do you share all the household chores?

TA: I’d say yes but I think Luke would say no! To be fair, he does do a lot of it, he looks after me. We get on pretty well; we just have little arguments as any siblings would. He’s just bought another place, though, so he’ll be moving out soon. Then I’ll have to sort myself out.

Superpowers, Remote controlled aeroplanes and his Ideal Woman…

RW: If your house was on fire, what three things would you save?

TA: My dog and my golf clubs. What else would I save? My mobile.

RW: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?

TA: My phone again – providing it would work. Something to go hunting with and a house, or is that too big?

RW: What’s the most stupid thing you’ve ever purchased?

TA: There’s probably a lot of things I shouldn’t have bought that I have, but nothing that comes straight to mind. [He then has a quick chat with his brother!] I didn’t buy this, but I asked for a remote control aeroplane for my 11th birthday. You built it yourself and then took it out to fly. I turned 21 this summer and it’s still not been built! I got halfway through, but then gave up and it’s still in the box.

RW: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

TA: To fly or be invisible. If I was invisible I’d probably just go around listening to conversations I wasn’t supposed to.

RW: Would you care to share your most embarrassing moment?

TA: Ever or in rugby? I think I’ve probably suppressed them all because I can’t think of any right now, even from rugby.

RW: Do you have any phobias?

TA: I’m not a big fan of spiders. I wouldn’t say that it was a phobia, but I don’t really like them.